"To adjust any particular valve, take its number, then figure out the other number you will need to add up to nine. Turn the engine so that valve is wide open, then adjust the one with the first number. For example, to adjust number one, turn the engine so that number eight is open all the way, then adjust number one. Moving on to number two, turn the engine so that seven is wide open, then adjust number two, and so on."

Interestingly, all of my intake valves were 0.018" (cold), and the exhaust valves were all 0.019". An early warning sign of valve recession, perhaps? I set everything so that a lubricated 0.020 feeler gauge would pass, but a 0.022 would not.

About

The stalwart 122S "Amazon," produced between 1956 and 1970, went a long way in establishing Volvo's reputation for safety and reliability. I was looking for an 1800 when I saw the classified ad for my Amazon, but decided to take a chance, and have since fallen in love with designer Jan Wilsgaard's Nordic-Modern take on classic Detroit, not to mention the car's bulletproof reliability and often mind-boggling simplicity. I bought my 120 from its original owner, who lovingly drove it for 580,000 miles before handing the keys over to me. Any car that can survive half a century and half a million miles of abuse is all right in my book, and worthy of some TLC -- or at least a low budget restoration.